SWS Members Attend AIBS Policy, Media Workshops

July 1, 2008

As part of the recent annual meeting of the Society for Wetland Scientists (SWS) in Washington, DC, the AIBS Public Policy Office conducted two workshops for meeting participants. The SWS is an AIBS member society and participant-level contributor to the AIBS Public Policy Office.

Megan Kelhart, AIBS senior public policy associate, conducted a 90-minute workshop titled "Congress 101." The session provided participants with a nuts-and-bolts understanding of congressional structure and function relative to science policy, including environmental policy and funding for research. Additionally, participants engaged in hands-on activities designed to provide scientists with the basic tools necessary to successfully meet with a member of Congress.

Holly Menninger, AIBS senior public affairs associate, conducted a "Communicating Science to the Media" workshop. The program, which builds on the popular AIBS publication Communicating Science: A Primer for Working with the Media, helped participants better understand how to prepare for interviews with news reporters.